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Ellis, the Stuntman

He did stunts for Baywatch...!

Tonight I got to spend some time on my flight to Houston with a real, true to life stuntman. Ellis has been doing stunts since he was five years old and it’s really the only thing that he’s ever known.

What’s fascinating is one of the conversations we had about it – I asked him how he knew that this was what he wanted to do with his life and he looked a bit puzzled at first. He quickly mentioned that it’s all he’s been doing and he loves it and he just knew that it’s what he would be doing with his life.

He then said:

Isn’t that what most people do?

I shook my head. Unfortunately most people sacrifice (or learn to sacrifice and compromise) their passions very early on for something more “practical” or something that they are pressured into, whether from family or via culture or via some other external force.

He was an obvious exception to that “rule.” I was inspired and it challenged me to think about how many people, at some point in their life, decide that their dreams, passions, and the things that they love to do aren’t worth pursuing or worth “enough” to pursue with everything that they’ve got.

I captured some of my thoughts tonight via video:

[tentblogger-vimeo 34767066]

Here are some other places and people he’s worked with because he’s pursued his love for stunt work:

He works with the Hogans!Goldberg!Jay Leno!

I think that this year needs to be a year where some of you revisit some of your lost loves. I think you need to become more like Ellis.

So what’s it going to take? How are you going to change this year? It’s not too late to get started!

I’m for you. I believe in you. Let’s make 2012 a bit different than 2011 where you didn’t pursue your passions.